Lights Out

When a bloodthirsty supernatural being that lurks in the shadows preys upon her family, a young woman must fight to protect herself, save her younger brother, and uncover a mystery about her family's shadowy past.

Much more than a handful of jump-scares. This movie is legitimately creepy from start to finish. It isn't perfect, by any means, but it's a much scarier movie than I've seen in quite some time.
It doesn't rely on gore, violence, or the standard horror setting.
So, as far as traditional themes go it is (slightly) original.

Lights Out sets up like a standard demonic presence, horror movie, where an evil entity pursues the seemingly innocent protagonists to no end, but it employs a unique device of making the antagonist only visible in the shadows to add something extra. The device works to great effect for jump scares that don’t seem as cheap as some in the same genre, and it's a useful base for a handful of interesting visual effects like the muzzle bursts from a gun causing the antagonist to intermittently disappear, or a protagonist gaining brief respite from being attacked by flipping on a car’s headlights. Without care, Lights Out could have floundered, but the director was clearly committed to the vision and wound up making a genuinely spooky experience.

This is more a comment on comments--if people cannot write a half-decent sentence, and have to use offensive language because they apparently don't know any other expressive adjectives, why don't they work on their language skills before choosing to share their opinions?

This scary, mostly psychological thriller will disappoint Saw and other bloody gore, body-count fans. Instead, it focuses on the psyche’s interior, a dysfunctional family too familiar with death, and “now you see it, now you don’t” monsters. Is Diana real or supernatural? Is the mom (well-played by a haggard Maria Bello) truly mentally ill or demon-possessed? A cynical, long-lost daughter returns to protect her baby brother from the same visitations that she saw as a child, reluctantly allowing her boyfriend to help.

For viewers 14 and up. Lurking in the shadows is a supernatural demon who only comes when the lights are out. When a young girl fights to protect herself and her younger brother from this bloodthirsty monster, she has to unravel her family’s past. “Lights out” is a thrilling movie. If you're not scared of the dark now, after watching this you won't be able to sleep without thinking there's a shadow lurking near. I personally love watching horror movies because of the suspense and the thrill, but I got so freaked out when I watched this movie, and it still gives me the creeps sometimes. If you’re scared of the dark then I suggest you do not watch this movie for you won't be comfortable going to sleep again. 5/5 stars
- @AquafinaAstro of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library